VENTILATION FOR LED LIGHTING

• US 20120002415A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Peter K., Leadford, Kevin Franklin
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/013 the housing being an extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide for a linear lighting system with a plurality of discrete light sources. Other embodiments of the invention include heat dissipation techniques and apparatus for a linear light system. Other embodiments of the invention include a two component lighting system that includes rails and nodes. In some embodiments, the lighting and control aspects can be divided between the rail and node. In yet other embodiments a linear lens providing a unique photometric distribution is provided.

Claims

1. A rail that extends along a rail axis and comprises:

a plurality of discrete light sources;

an elongated inner rail body coupled with the plurality of discrete light sources;

a heat sink coupled with the inner rail body and comprising a plurality of fins positioned along the inner rail body and oriented substantially transverse to the rail axis, wherein adjacent fins are separated by a space; and

an outer rail body coupled with the heat sink,

wherein the space between adjacent fins provides channels for air to flow through the light rail at an angle to the rail axis.

2. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the outer rail body is not in contact with the inner rail body.

3. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete light sources are in thermal contact with the heat sink.

4. The rail according to claim 1, further comprising a lens coupled with the inner rail body.

5. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the discrete light sources comprise light emitting diodes.

6. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the channel extends substantially perpendicular to the rail axis.

7. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink, further comprises an elongated member and wherein the plurality of fins are disposed along the length of the elongated member.

8. The rail according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of fins are substantially u-shaped and comprise a base and two arms.

9. The rail according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of fins are substantially u-shaped and comprise a base and two arms.

10. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the outer rail body comprises a first outer rail housing and a second outer rail housing.

11. The rail according to claim 10, wherein each heat sink fin comprises a first arm and a second arm and wherein the first outer rail housing is coupled to the first arm of at least one of the plurality of heat sink fins and the second outer rail housing is coupled to the second arm of at least one of the plurality of heat sink fins.

12. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the outer rail body snap-fits onto the heat sink.

13. A heat sink for an array of light emitting diodes comprising:

an elongated member having a length and extending along an axis;

a plurality of heat-transfer fins disposed in an array along the length of the elongated member and oriented substantially transverse to the axis of the elongated member, wherein each heat-transfer fin is substantially u-shaped and comprises a base and two arms and wherein the base of each heat-transfer fin is coupled with the elongated member.

14. The heat sink according to claim 13, wherein portions of the base extend above the elongated member and a portion of the arms extend below the elongated member.

15. The heat sink according to claim 13, wherein an inner portion of the base of each heat-transfer fin is coupled with the elongated member.

16. The heat sink according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of heat-transfer fins are substantially flat or corrugated.

17. A heat sink comprising:

a flat elongated member having a length, a top and a bottom and extending along an axis;

a plurality of heat-transfer members coupled with the top of the elongated member along the length of the elongated member, wherein adjacent heat-transfer members are separated by a space that forms a channel between the adjacent heat-transfer members, wherein each heat-transfer member includes at least a first arm that extends below the bottom of the elongated member.

18. The heat sink according to claim 17, wherein each heat-transfer member includes a second arm that extends below the bottom of the elongated member on an opposite side of the elongated member as the first arm.

19. The heat sink according to claim 18, wherein the first arm and the second arm are coupled together with a base, wherein the base is coupled with the elongated member.

20. The heat sink according to claim 17, wherein the heat-transfer members are substantially flat.

21. The heat sink according to claim 17, wherein the first arm is substantially curved.

22. The heat sink according to claim 17, wherein at least some of the heat-transfer members are oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of the elongated member.

23. The heat sink according to claim 17, wherein the width of the first leg is greater at the bottom than at the top near where the leg is coupled with the elongated member.